National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) - Self Acceptancehttp://nedic.ca/blog-categories/self-acceptance
en“I Told My Doctor I Had An Eating Disorder & He Tried To Put Me On A Diet.”http://nedic.ca/blog/%E2%80%9Ci-told-my-doctor-i-had-eating-disorder-he-tried-put-me-diet%E2%80%9D
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<p><strong>TRIGGER WARNING:</strong> the following material may be triggering for some individuals - please read with caution. </p>
<p>There is nothing I hate more than visiting the doctors—especially when you have to talk about the more touchier subjects. One of hardest things I've struggled with in the past is talking about my history with food. I’ve always been a bigger girl, and for some reason, within our society, there seems to be this sort of disbelief or misconception when it comes to fat women with eating disorders. So when I finally decided to talk about it with medical professionals, I didn't get the kind of reaction I had hoped for. After a couple minutes of discussing my past with eating and specifically binge eating, everything began to unfold. I’m crying because I’m being emotionally vulnerable, My twin sister is crying because when I cry she cries and vice versa, and I also feel this huge weight being taken off my shoulders as I continue to dive in and open up more. In my head, I’m thinking that things are going quite well and I'm sure i’ll likely be recommended to a therapist and move on. Should be a piece of cake, right? WRONG.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Here’s what actually happened:</strong></p>
<p>My doctor begins to scribble on his clipboard. I’m hysterical, and my mom is squeezing my hand telling me everything is going to be ok. My doctor has the nerve to ask me if I've ever considered going on a diet. Before I could say anything, he pulls out a syringe from his refrigerator and SHOVES IT IN HIS STOMACH. I REPEAT: IN HIS STOMACH. I am puzzled, my sister is puzzled, and we can’t believe what we just saw. He just injected his stomach with a syringe. I am now fuming, frustrated, and uncomfortable. I couldn't get a word out without being interrupted by him. I still have tears rolling down my cheeks. I’ve just opened up about something that I have been battling for years, and my doctor is sticking a needle in his stomach. He begins to exclaim how “just like that, you won’t be hungry for the rest of the day!” as if it was some miracle formula. The unfortunate part is that this isn't the first time this has happened. I’ve previously tried talking to other medical professionals about binge eating and I have always been directed towards the same crash diets and weight loss plans. I’ve done the diets, whether it was straight cabbage soup for a couple weeks or small chewable tablets that were considered “snacks”; nothing ever worked for me. The only thing that ever stuck around was poor eating habits and brutal self- image. I strongly believe that I was treated this way because of my weight. There is this form of stereotype and stigma when it comes to eating disorders and fat people, and it’s honestly one of the main reasons why I've kept quiet about mine for years. I just wasn't small enough, I just wasn't sick enough, I just wasn't enough. I’ve talked to a handful of other plus-size women who have suffered from a variety of mental health issues and eating disorders, and a lot of their stories were similar to mine. It’s frustrating to suffer in silence, and it makes it that much worse when the so-called “professionals” are invalidating your struggles and your sickness based off of the way you look. After my doctor put that syringe away, I collected up the courage to tell him exactly what I wanted. I was done with being told to sit down, be silent, and told to take up less space. I began seeing a therapist, worked on my triggers, and began re-learning my self worth. I’ve been on a journey towards self love for the past two or three years now, and it’s seriously changed the way I live my life, both mentally and physically. In today’s society, sometimes people will doubt you, and sometimes they won’t always believe you, merely based off of your appearance. But I am here to tell you, clichés and all, that it WILL get better. Sometimes, we have to learn to stand up for who we are as an individuals. I promise there are plenty of resources out there for folks struggling with mental health, eating disorders, body image, and more. I'd like to thank NEDIC for giving me this amazing platform to share my story, and I hope this resonates with you. I want you to know that no matter what you look like, your problems are valid, you are valid.</p>
<p>
Please note these piece was roginally published by Michelle for Revelist.</p>
<p>
<em>Michelle Rogers is a 20 year old writer, blogger, and body positivity activist. When she isn't writing final papers, she's creating content centred around all things plus fashion, body image, and eating disorders. Michelle has been featured in FabUplus Magazine, The Today Show, Revelist, and more. She has a passion for sharing her stories and struggles, and creating a connection with empowering and like-minded people across the globe.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Social Media:</p>
<p>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bodyposipower/">https://www.instagram.com/bodyposipower/</a></p>
<p>Blog: <a href="https://bodyposipower.wordpress.com/">https://bodyposipower.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p>Youtube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHoDFXYLVLs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHoDFXYLVLs</a></p>
<p>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BodyPosiPower/">https://www.facebook.com/BodyPosiPower/</a></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/body-image" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Body Image</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/ed-awareness" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ED Awareness</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/perspectives" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Perspectives</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/recovery" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Recovery</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/self-identity" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self-Identity</a></div></div></div>Tue, 06 Feb 2018 19:08:51 +0000nedic blogger1084 at http://nedic.caBreak the Mold. Turn Up Compassionhttp://nedic.ca/blog/break-mold-turn-compassion
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><img alt="large_rebecca.png" src="/sites/default/files//large_rebecca.png" style="height:180px; width:180px" /></p>
<p>One size does not fit all! Nothing in nature grows the same and neither do people. Humans have created ways to genetically modify nature to fit their mold. Some of the produce in stores are genetically modified to attract people to buy it. For example, tomatoes and corn are altered to have longer shelf life and look appealing. In a way, people are also transformed to fit a certain design. Means such as cosmetic surgery and fad diets are just two examples of the ways people try to transform their bodies. But who decides what the size and shape of a human body should look like or is the “best?”. If we look back through history, figures and body types that were “deemed attractive” have constantly shifted. For example, in the Victorian Era full-figured women and larger men were desired. While in the 1990s extremely thin was the standard of beauty. While today, muscular men are the ideal form. These are just a couple of examples of the way men and women's bodies have been shifted and fashioned to a social belief. Furthermore, eating disorders are also unique. Each person's struggle is different, for example, unhealthy views of our body, over exercise, restrictive eating, taboo foods or social food anxiety. Furthermore, the way individuals experience and live with eating disorders are exclusive.</p>
<p>Why do we let an unidentified voice tell us what we should or should not look like? Moreover, why do we listen? I feel it is important we hear our own internal voice. We need to work on quieting the sounds of judgement and turn up the sounds of kindness and understanding. The world is full of standards and expectations which can encourage us to place high expectations on ourselves. These expectations can make us feel a lot of internal pressure and stress. Quickly, our internal self-talk can become critical and negative. For example, “if I were a breast size bigger, I would be more attractive.” These thoughts are not helpful for our self-esteem and our health. How do we give ourselves compassion? We need to work towards changing our own harsh self-talk to one of compassion and love. When we think, “I look terrible today because my face is all puffy.” We can focus on parts of us that we do like or slightly change our language to something more positive. For example, “I may not feel comfortable with my face being puffy but my hair turned out great.” Another way to be compassionate is to ask ourselves, “would I speak to my friends and family the way I speak to myself”? Let us practice speaking to ourselves the same way we would speak to loved ones. Through the act of compassion we take back control of our feelings, behaviors, and bodies.</p>
<p>An unidentified voice is out there constantly telling us how to look and feel. If this voice was silenced, what voice would we have to listen to? So let us break free from standards and strive to love ourselves and the beautiful framework that make us who we are: unique and amazing!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Rebecca Bates is a social worker at the Napanee Community Health Center and provides counselling services to family, couples, and individuals of all ages. Rebecca has practice working with clients and families struggling with mental health and difficult life issues, and regularly facilitates mental health and support groups and presents psychoeducational sessions. Rebecca provides a compassionate and supportive environment to help guide her clients to overcome obstacles and succeed in obtaining goals.</em></p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/body-image" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Body Image</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/ed-awareness" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ED Awareness</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/perspectives" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Perspectives</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div></div></div>Mon, 05 Feb 2018 18:29:31 +0000nedic blogger1083 at http://nedic.caYour wardrobe, your rules and learning how to get rid of your ED clotheshttp://nedic.ca/blog/your-wardrobe-your-rules-and-learning-how-get-rid-your-ed-clothes
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<p>A big part of finding myself during my recovery was developing a personal style. I had always liked clothing, but had never really identified what I liked to wear. I knew I loved colour but I never knew where to shop for it and, more often than not, I was too scared to wear the things I liked because I feared the judgement I would or would not receive. Oh how times have changed. Now I dress for me and only me and I love every single item I own.</p>
<p>That being said, my wardrobe isn't very large. I don't have a lot of shoes and I only keep jewellery that holds sentimental value. I tend to wear the same special pieces regularly. I care about quality and not in the slightest about quantity, however I did, in the past, care an awful lot about 'size'. Building my wardrobe to what it is today was an incredible hurdle I had to face in my recovery – a hurdle that warriors must all face in recovery.</p>
<p>Every recovery warrior who has gone through (or is going through) weight restoration knows that letting go of 'ill' clothes is an extremely difficult and emotional task. 'Ill' clothes represent a huge part of our disease, and getting rid of them means coming to terms with the fact that our bodies are not meant to be so thin and unhealthy. All of this makes for a tough pill to swallow but I have some steps, tips and advice that may make this transition more pleasant.</p>
<p><strong>Your wardrobe, your rules.</strong></p>
<p>There is no right or wrong way to dress – both your style and your clothing are unique to you. Perhaps there are some rules. I mean, you wouldn’t wear a bikini in minus temperatures and you definitely wouldn’t wear a prom dress to the gym. But what's not a given is finding the style sets you apart and most importantly the style you like wearing. In order to wave goodbye to your 'ill clothes', you must first begin walking in the direction of your 'you clothes'.</p>
<p>The colours, the shape, the edginess, softness or brightness of your wardrobe. The time period you are inspired by and the fashion of that time genre. The current season and weather will play a vital role in your outfits too. Not to forget your job and your passions are both very major underlying factors of your wardrobe. Plus obviously where you live and the places you like to shop.</p>
<p>Take my wardrobe: I'm a dancer so you'll find that a large bulk of my wardrobe is leotards, tights, sports bras, hot pants, warm ups, joggers and dance 'branded' jumpers plus the obvious ballet, pointe, jazz and tap shoes. This part of my wardrobe has been created from my thriving passion for dancing and performing. I'm also a lover of art, patterns, embroidery, detailed designs and colour. I also am a sucker for vintage clothing and Chinese patterns. I guess this part of my wardrobe is what sets me apart.</p>
<p>As for an 'era' or time period I like to dress from, I don't think I have one. I do have, however, have several hidden gems – my vintage treasures.</p>
<p>My point here, is that there is no right or wrong way to be yourself and express that part of you. There is, however, a way to distance yourself from the clothes that defined you and your disease for so long. Find you. Dress that person. It’s your body after all!</p>
<p><strong>Cut but don't necessarily chuck.</strong></p>
<p>When I was ill and underweight, my favourite piece of clothing was a stunning Indian pattered dress, but it was tiny and I knew it would only fit me in my current skeletal frame at the time. As much as it annoyed me and hurt me, I knew that if I restored my weight it would no longer fit. When I wore that dress, I felt sexy, confident, and cool – I felt pretty. Reflecting on that very feeling, is strange. The dress gave me a “good enough” feeling – it was my reason to stay ill and stay skinny for. Crazy right?</p>
<p>My advice: don’t get rid of your ill clothes….completely. Repurpose it! I loved that dress because of its beautiful embroidered Indian patterns. So, my Mum made it into something else….</p>
<p>I know, I know, my Mum is a genius. She understood completely that in order for me to gain weight I needed to abolish all the clothes that would become too small for me, so that I would have no clothes to pull me back. She also understood how much I loved that dress and how genuinely happy the pattern made me feel. So we cut it and kept it, but not to wear. Instead, I used it to decorate my room. The same dress that once held me back from gaining weight now covers a cushion on my bedroom desk-chair on which I now place my very healthy weight restored bottom wearing my new weight restored clothes. </p>
<p><strong>Let the clothes express you but not hide you.</strong></p>
<p>Learn to dress to express and not to hide, cover or coat yourself. Dress for the day you want... make it joyful, make it colourful and make it teamed with accessories and quirky things that put your happiness and recovery in the limelight. You can wear what you like but always make sure that you are wearing what you like for the right reasons. If you love wearing your boyfriends’ jumper or baggy t-shirts, make sure you like wearing them because you generally like them, and not because they cover your thighs or bloated waist. Don't be scared to wear what you like. Don't feel the need to hide.</p>
<p>This also applies to your corsets and tight fitting clothing. Make sure you wear them because you damn well love them and not because you are trying to hide behind a mask, false identity or 'society ideal'. Wear it and wear it proud but only because you damn well like it.</p>
<p><strong>F*** sizes.</strong></p>
<p>You are not your size so don't stand there 'wearing your size'. Instead, stand there proud wearing nothing but your confidence. Buy clothes that are made for your body and don't worry about the size. No one is going to look at you and think 'I wonder what size that dress is'. No one thinks like that except your eating disorder mind – in reality, no one cares! And you shouldn’t either.</p>
<p>Just a little tester. What advertisement is more appealing to you?</p>
<p>A) "Frill Seeker Wanted: confident woman rocking clothes full of frills.”</p>
<p>B) "Frill seeker! Wanted: woman size 'X' wearing frilled clothes."</p>
<p>If you were to create an advertisement, which one would you send out? Which woman would you search for? If you ask me, I’d choose A). Why? Because confidence is key and size is meaningless.</p>
<p>Like I said, no one cares what size tag is on your top or trousers. So don't be afraid of letting go of the tag itself. Go on, you've earned it!</p>
<p><strong>No clothes, no problem.</strong></p>
<p>While this blog has been all about clothes and feeling confident and in love with your wardrobe, real confidence comes from appreciating and loving what’s underneath your clothing. If you can manage to love your true skin and the body that is you, you’ve done it. It’s a process no doubt, but it’s the best thing you can learn to do for yourself.</p>
<p>I say, practice strutting your stuff…naked. From your bathroom to your bedroom, bedroom to kitchen…what have you! Now as bonkers as this sounds and while you may only fit in 4 or 5 steps between rooms, it’s the most liberating feeling! This, for me, was what allowed me to embrace all that I am.</p>
<p>Which ending do you want to finish with? Woman meets dress... and inevitably falls head over heels for it? Or, woman meets self... and inevitably falls heart over head for herself?</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Author: Margherita Barbieri.</em></p>
<p><em>Website: <a href="http://www.itsalwaysmargi.com">www.itsalwaysmargi.com</a></em></p>
<p><em>Instagram: @alwaysmargi</em></p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/perspectives" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Perspectives</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/recovery" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Recovery</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div></div></div>Sat, 03 Feb 2018 15:11:52 +0000nedic blogger1081 at http://nedic.caLanguage of Recoveryhttp://nedic.ca/blog/language-recovery
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<p>Photo bySam MannsonUnsplash</p>
<p>Ten years ago I began to see signs in a different language–signs that I ignored. However, even though I disregarded them, they persisted in ever growing intensity. Was I a traveler exploring this vast world of ours? No. I was just a mom who held down a part time job while homeschooling my two daughters full time. So, what were these foreign signs? They were the signs of my youngest daughter’s journey down the rabbit hole we call eating disorders.</p>
<p>My journey with my daughter was lonely, terrifying, exhausting, and life changing. Ten years after its onset I can say it was the hardest thing I have ever done, yet it shaped me into the person I am today.</p>
<p>Rachel was eleven when her eating disorder manifested. She was diagnosed at twelve years old - she was 5 feet 7 inches and weighed 77 pounds. She didn’t present as having a typical eating disorder and because of the lack of understanding of eating disorders by her primary care physician it took time and research to get her treatment. Eventually she was re-fed over eight and half weeks at McMaster Hospital in Hamilton. Rachel struggled hard after she was refed. For years she was consumed with thoughts that I was poisoning her. Each meal was a battle. Though she knew on some level that food was medicine, she couldn’t help but continue to think that it was also poison. In concert with the eating disorder thoughts, she was plagued with suicidal ideation. She was unable to function socially and academically, and was unable to go to the high school she loved. She became utterly entrenched in her eating disorder.</p>
<p>After four years of struggling, and coming to the end of the resources at McMaster, Rachel came to the realization that residential care was the only way she was going to get better. At sixteen, she bravely signed the papers and was given the opportunity to receive care at Avalon Hills in Utah. With the very hard work she did at Avalon and the follow up care at McMaster and CMHA, Rachel obtained her high school diploma and graduated as the Valedictorian. She is now twenty-one, a third year university student on exchange in England studying Film, and feeding her passion for medieval history. Rachel is one of the 20 to 30 percent1 of eating disorder warriors who are fully recovered.</p>
<p>Through Rachel’s journey I learned to read the signs of her eating disorder: the sneer of rage and utter defiance, the tears of desperation, the cry of anger and frustration, the fear of medical tests, and the terror of medication side effects. Yet over time I also was able to read the signs of recovery: the yearning to get on with life, the dedication to make a difference, and the deep seated determination to change.</p>
<p>Learning a new language takes time and lots of trial and error. My actions and my emotional displays at the beginning of the eating disorder only entrenched it further. My daughter was terrified and angry and she needed me to be something more - she needed me to be her emotional rock. In time I was able to be that. But it took time. When I dropped Rachel off at Avalon, it physically hurt to leave her there and drive to the airport. It was the absolute hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life. Yet, it was the very best thing that could have happened to her, to me, and to our relationship. While she was at Avalon I was able to step back from battling for her life. I learned to walk beside her (and not for her) and be a supportive and loving mom. I wrote to her every day. Some days, my emails to her were over ten pages long. Every day I sent hope, encouragement, and my love as we both healed and made the changes necessary for her to live the life she dreamed of.</p>
<p>The pieces of language that transcended life before, during, and after the eating disorder were hope and belief in my daughter’s ability to make it through, to make a difference, and to succeed at whatever she chose to put her heart to. Hope and faith are what made the difference - they were the wind under her wings at all times during her recovery journey.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Techiya Loewen is a mental health advocate/family peer supporter/administrator. Through the week she works as an administrator in a family health team. In her personal/professional life she supports parents with children with eating disorders by providing one-on-one support and facilitating a monthly drop in support group in Hamilton, ON. Techiya supported her daughter through her eating disorder journey and assisted her daughter with her charity work in providing random acts of kindness gifts to children on the children in McMaster and Grand River Hospital. In 2015 Techiya and Rachel ran an evening program for parents and eating disordered patients at McMaster from which the monthly support group was developed. Techiya can be reached at <a href="mailto:hope4teatingdisorders@gmail.com">hope4teatingdisorders@gmail.com</a>.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p>1Roberts. (2016, March). Lecture: Eating Disorders, Brescia University College.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/coping" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Coping</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/ed-awareness" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ED Awareness</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/perspectives" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Perspectives</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/recovery" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Recovery</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/self-identity" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self-Identity</a></div></div></div>Fri, 02 Feb 2018 15:20:58 +0000nedic blogger1080 at http://nedic.caIf I’ve learned anything….http://nedic.ca/blog/if-i%E2%80%99ve-learned-anything%E2%80%A6
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><img alt="image.png" src="http://nedic.ca/sites/default/files//image.png" style="height:467px; width:624px" /></p>
<p><em><strong>Trigger Warning: </strong>the following materials may be triggering for some individuals - please read with caution.</em></p>
<p>How do you make someone else understand exactly what it’s like to hate yourself? They usually just don’t get it and the conversation ends up as something like this:</p>
<p>“There must be something about yourself that you love.. Or at least like”</p>
<p>“I mean, I get good grades, so I guess I’m not a complete idiot”</p>
<p>“So you like that you’re smart?”</p>
<p>“Well, I don’t really think I am smart”</p>
<p>“You must be lying. You must think you’re smart or pretty or funny… something”</p>
<p>“...”</p>
<p>For a long time, that was the conversation that I had over and over again with other people and with myself. I absolutely hated every part of my being. Actually, no. I didn’t hate everything but I was so completely numb that what I didn’t actually dislike, I simply had no feelings towards, it just was. I just was. And from about the time I was 12, this was my norm. It’s terrifying now to realize that my norm was a state of complete ambivalence, that I just couldn’t feel anything emotionally.</p>
<p>I guess you need some background.</p>
<p>When I was about 12, I started experiencing the normal path of puberty that most do. Bodily and hormonal changes were controlling everything and there was nothing I could do about it. I got glasses for the first time, had severe acne on my face, back, and chest, and my body shape was changing. These are normal experiences. I also had these huge Dumbo ears that I was always self-conscious of. This got more intense as I got older. But on top of all of this, I was dealing with an incredibly unhappy home life in which my parents either fought or didn’t speak (they separated and got back together for the first time when I was 8), the attention was always on my older brother who was the “troublemaker”, and I put and cried myself to sleep most nights. I also had an overbearing dance teacher whose idea of “effective teaching” was to scream and berate us. Then, some of my friends started bullying me because my body was slow to develop in comparison to theirs. So yeah, things in my life were tough.</p>
<p>When you’re an unhappy adolescent BEFORE adding in the challenges of puberty, things get much more difficult when you include normal emotional experiences. I started turning to alcohol to cope, but I witnessed my grandmother delve deeper and deeper into adulthood, so I was always worried that I would be the same way.</p>
<p>We can skip over the next four years because it was just the same pattern of unhappiness repeating itself time and time again. The only difference was that I would get more depressed and more anxious about my situation until I just couldn’t feel anything anymore. But I kept up a facade of being a happy-go-lucky adolescent, as I had been that way as a kid. I was completely terrified of anyone finding out about how I actually viewed myself and the world around me.</p>
<p>So now I’m 16, self-conscious of my ears and lack of boobs (couldn’t this just switch so I had big boobs and small ears?), still dealing with acne that no medication can seem to fix, but now I started failing some courses at school because I was so anxious I wasn’t actually learning the material. My mom decided that now was the time to do something about my acne, so I went on Accutane. One of the side effects of this was depression and I was already depressed. I was no longer able to hide it and I began seeing my first therapist. It was also around this time that I got my first diagnosis of “school-related anxiety”. This was incorrect. What I have come to find is that I suffer from major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.</p>
<p>At 18 I dropped out of my first university program because I got sick and couldn’t go to class, so I was failing. It only took two months for me to feel like a complete waste of space. The short version is that I ended up with something called gastroparesis - a paralyzed stomach- and an esophageal ulcer. Basically, I couldn’t digest food and I had an acid burn in my esophagus because I’d vomit what I did try to eat. It’s been 8 years and I still sometimes have a hard time eating. My body image concerns don’t help this either. I no longer hate myself, actually I am learning to love myself. I still hate looking at myself in the mirror, but I’m working on this.</p>
<p>I could sit here and tell you how each year of my life was awful, how difficult it was for me, how I struggled day in and day out with normal things, how I hated the way I looked and didn’t understand my issues with weight gain (I would either binge on crappy food or not eat at all) but I think at this point you understand that. Instead, what I will do is mention a few key things that I have learned from my experiences:</p>
<p>It’s okay to have bad days. Bad days don’t make you a bad person and bad days don’t stick around forever.</p>
<p>Even when you’re finally in a place where you’re happy, you’ll still have bad days. That doesn’t mean you’re not happy, it means you’re human.</p>
<p>Find something you love and do it often. Put your energies and anxieties into whatever activity this may be (for me, it’s cleaning and yoga).</p>
<p>Force yourself to get out of bed and be busy. Indulge yourself and wallow in your issues on occasion, but most days, get outside and interact with the world.</p>
<p>Talk to someone. A therapist, a friend, a family member. It makes a difference when you can voice whatever it is that’s going on in your life.</p>
<p>Everyone deals differently. What’s worked for me might not work for you. That’s okay.</p>
<p>Don’t ignore what your mind and body are telling you. Listen to it, respect it, acknowledge it, and deal with it.</p>
<p>You are constantly changing and growing. Allow this process to happen, don’t fight it.</p>
<p>Accept and learn. Some things, we cannot change. I couldn’t change the fact that my parents got divorced. I couldn’t change the fact that I got sick. I can’t change my metabolism or how quickly I gain weight. But I did learn to manage my reactions to these things.</p>
<p>You are not alone!</p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/body-image" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Body Image</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/coping" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Coping</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/ed-awareness" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">ED Awareness</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/self-identity" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self-Identity</a></div></div></div>Thu, 01 Feb 2018 15:36:55 +0000direct client support1079 at http://nedic.caRecoverED and Datinghttp://nedic.ca/blog/recovered-and-dating
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><img alt="Webp.net-resizeimage_1.jpg" src="/sites/default/files//Webp.net-resizeimage_1.jpg" style="height:384px; width:576px" /></p>
<p>Photo by Cooper Smith on Unsplash</p>
<p>Starting my recovery was the hardest decision I ever made, but I was thankful to have a supportive and trusting person by my side. My partner was the first person I ever opened up to about my eating disorder. Before them, like many, I was very secretive and ashamed of my disorder. Recently, that relationship has ended and as hard as it has been, re-entering the dating world has proven to be even more difficult.</p>
<p>I find the concept of dating awkward and uncomfortable, regardless of mental health concerns. It’s putting myself on display and hoping that the other person likes what they see and hear, while evaluating them in the same way. In a way, dating encompasses everything I tried to avoid through my eating disorder: judgement, evaluations, and being open and honest about my feelings. I have been told many times that I don’t “look like I have an eating disorder” which is a statement that is full of oppressive and stigmatized connotations. Opening up about my disorder has provided me with so much empowerment, but there is always a fear that lingers about disclosing within new relationships. A fear of disclosing too soon, or that the person will belittle me, not understand, or no longer be interested. At the same time, if I want to show this person my best self, that includes showing my strength in being open and honest about my past.</p>
<p>Going from having a partner who knew everything, to trying to open up to a new possible partner about such a personal topic as my disorder has been hard. Society often stigmatizes eating disorders and makes it so incredibly difficult to open up to people. My old fears of being judged, which were one of the factors in the development of my eating disorder, are suddenly rushing back. A part of me wants to avoid dating altogether and just keep my recovery to myself. However, another part of me, the part that I have spent so long rebuilding in recovery, knows how beneficial it is to have support and to be open about my disorder. Not only for myself, but to help keep the conversation going surrounding eating disorders in general.</p>
<p>So here I am. Telling myself to hold on to my recovery tools, remembering the power that positive relationships have in my life, and refusing to hide away my disorder have not been easy. However, along the way I have found a few new tips that have helped me prevent dating from derailing my recovery, and continue with my maintenance:</p>
<p>First, recognizing the power of openness and honesty. In recovery they tell you how being secretive is not beneficial, and for me I have found that truth both in being honest with others and myself. Sharing about my triggers, history, and disorder has created strength within me, but also within my relationships. There is always a risk when you open up, but also incredible strength. Although everyone’s experience is different, for me opening up has allowed me to take the power back from my eating disorder. I am no longer confined by my disorder, but finally able to break free from it emotionally. Rather than distancing myself from my family, friends and relationships, opening up has allowed me to create stronger bonds than ever before.</p>
<p>Although some people may struggle with the information, and react in negative ways, knowing how they feel has given me more insight into the capacity I want them in my life. As well, by opening up, even if it doesn’t go as planned, I am being true to myself and continuing the conversation around eating disorders rather than feeding into the stigma and hiding. Which in itself can be very empowering.</p>
<p>Second, being honest with myself and mindful about my feelings. Being mindful about how situations (and people) are affecting me and remembering to take care of myself when needed. If there is anything I have learned about relationships throughout my recovery it is that I cannot connect with another person and their feelings unless I first make myself a priority. For this reason, during my journey into dating this time around I am finding myself paying more attention to what I want rather than trying to please and be accepted by everyone else. Even though this is making dating more difficult, hopefully it will also lead to a rewarding experience.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Bio: Alicia is a Social Service Worker graduate and current 4th year Bachelor of Social Work student at York University. They are a genderqueer individual who previously struggled with bulimia and restriction. They are currently researching eating disorders within the trans community and volunteer with the National Eating Disorder Information Centre and Project Heal.</em></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/coping" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Coping</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/perspectives" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Perspectives</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/recovery" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Recovery</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/self-identity" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self-Identity</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/uncategorized" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Uncategorized</a></div></div></div>Fri, 12 Jan 2018 16:36:13 +0000nedic blogger1073 at http://nedic.caWhy Being Diagnosed With An Eating Disorder Was The Best Thing That Has Happened To Mehttp://nedic.ca/blog/why-being-diagnosed-eating-disorder-was-best-thing-has-happened-me
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><img alt="thegirlwholostherconfidence.jpg" src="/sites/default/files//thegirlwholostherconfidence.jpg" style="height:510px; width:680px" /></p>
<p>Since I was a teenager, my relationship with my body has always been problematic. In high school, I was taunted and called fat for having larger thighs and a bigger bottom. From an early age, I was taught that my worthiness was deemed based on my appearance. And then there was food. Food was there for me when I needed comfort, it was there to ease the pain. I used it to numb the bullying, the feelings of inadequacy and my dysfunctional home life. </p>
<p>My earliest memory of binge eating was when I was 16. I developed a friendship with food. It comforted me when no one else could, it numbed my feelings of hopelessness and unworthiness.</p>
<p>For years I rode the waves of my eating disorder without even knowing it. There would be periods of binging and then I would go into restriction mode. Desperate to lose weight I tried dieting, shakes, pills, meal plans, gym regimes and even hypnotherapy. But nothing worked, it was a vicious cycle.</p>
<p>I’d always known what I was doing wasn’t right but I didn’t know exactly what was wrong. Years of countless doctors’ appointments and counselling sessions, no one recognised my disordered eating. Each time I hopped on the dreaded scales in the doctor’s office, I was told to “exercise more and eat healthier”.</p>
<p>For 12 years, my binges were my deepest and darkest secret. I spent 12 years of my life feeling absolutely disgusted at myself and my habit. I felt like I couldn’t control myself or be trusted around food. Society created a name for people like me, I was a so called “fat pig”. </p>
<p>It wasn’t until earlier this year when I reluctantly hopped on the scales at the doctor’s office. I’d noticed that my clothes were feeling a little tighter but didn’t think much of it until the digits flashed before my eyes. I’d hit figures I’d never seen before. It was now no longer a matter of being what society had stereotyped fat, lazy and unmotivated, something was not right and I needed help. </p>
<p>My binges were taking over my life, I was struggling with my mental health and relieving the pain with food on a daily basis. I confided in my psychologist and she referred me to a dietitian that specialised in disordered eating. That was my lightbulb moment – it finally made sense.</p>
<p>A diagnosis was the best thing that has happened to me. Putting a name to my biggest secret has changed my life. Not only am I now receiving treatment for binge eating disorder, knowing I’m not the only one has helped remove the guilt and the shame I have felt so deeply for 12 years. </p>
<p>And for the first time in my life, my weight is not a priority, recovery is. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Sarah is a mental health blogger who lives in Melbourne, Australia with her partner and their four (very spoiled), cats and bunnies. Having lived with depression, anxiety and an eating disorder for most of her adult life, Sarah is extremely passionate about sharing her experiences to help and inspire others. As a body positive advocate, one of her dreams is for everyone to feel comfortable in the bodies they have been given. You can read more of Sarah&amp;#39;s inspiring stories on her blog.</em></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/body-image" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Body Image</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/perspectives" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Perspectives</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/recovery" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Recovery</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div></div></div>Fri, 17 Nov 2017 19:00:53 +0000nedic support1064 at http://nedic.caWhy I Don’t Think The Media Caused My Eating Disorderhttp://nedic.ca/blog/why-i-don%E2%80%99t-think-media-caused-my-eating-disorder
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p>TRIGGER WARNING: the following material may be triggering for some individuals. Please read with caution. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Who is “the media”?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Is it the morning news that I used to watch while I ate my Cheerios? Is it the fitness magazines that I desperately consumed all through middle school and high school? Is it The Biggest Loser or What Not To Wear or To The Bone? Is it the weight loss books that I checked out of my local library? Is it those infuriating Beachbody ads I keep seeing on Facebook? Is it Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram?</p>
<p>Is it a reflection of society? Does it create society?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And, to get to the root of the question, does the media cause eating disorders?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But I’m getting ahead of myself.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>In 2005, I was an average twelve year old in a lot of ways — wanting to get my first job, drink my first beer, kiss my first boy, all before eighth grade hit. (For what it’s worth, I achieved 0/3 by the deadline). More than anything, though, I wanted desperately to be pretty. And being pretty, of course, meant being thin.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>So at the ripe old age of twelve years old I went on my first diet.</p>
<p>I based my diet around the food and exercise plans in Fitness magazine. After all, I knew that not all the information I found on the internet was true, but surely printed materials were more reliable. I mean, it’s been published and put out to the public... they wouldn’t let just anyone do that, right?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Fitness magazine became my bible. It taught me how to Lose Weight And Keep It Off, how to Get Ripped Abs By Christmas, how to Lift More To Weigh Less. It taught me how to be healthy, how to be holy, how to be good. I would read about the latest in food and fitness technology, and those items would top my wish lists — an electronic food scale for my birthday, Nike+ for Christmas.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>This is the part where people intervened. You’re barely a teenager, they said. Your body is still changing. Your behaviour is scaring us. You don’t need to lose weight to matter.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Wait… actually, sorry, no. My mistake. None of that happened.</p>
<p>Instead, people encouraged me. Friends asked me to make fitness plans for them. Every pound I lost was celebrated — after all, I wasn’t thin, so I could stand to lose a few. No one was concerned about my behaviour, and why would they be? I didn’t look or act the way we were all told people with eating disorders looked and acted. I wasn’t an emaciated twenty-something actress, I was a chubby loudmouthed twelve year old. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>I wasn’t quiet, I wasn’t pretty, I wasn’t straight, and more than anything, I wasn’t thin. I learned quickly that my extreme behaviours weren’t concerning — they were good, verging on noble — because it was a chubby body doing them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>And who was I, at twelve years old, to challenge that narrative?</p>
<p>Because, like it or not, that is the narrative that we are given. Fitness magazine happened to be my own personal demon, but it is in no way the exception. We are constantly, in nearly all forms of media, explicitly and implicitly told that thin bodies are more valuable, more important, more worthy of love — and, when it comes to eating disorders, more worthy of help.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But even if we’re willing to acknowledge that that narrative exists… does it cause eating disorders? Well, that’s hard to say.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Some people will point to the fact that a huge number of eating disorders start, as mine did, with seemingly innocuous efforts to shed a few pounds. Some will point to the fact that eating disorders, in some form or another, have existed for thousands of years — long before our modern body ideals. Others will point out that “the media” is not a monolith, and indeed there is lots of media out there fighting against the dominant narrative. Still others will argue that the cause of an eating disorder can’t be pinned on one specific thing.</p>
<p>So, does the media cause eating disorders? That’s hard to prove.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But does the media glorify thinness? Demonize fatness? Promote dangerously strict eating habits? Teach us that one body type is the ultimate goal, and that what your body looks like is ultimately a result of whether or not you’re a hard worker, and therefore a good person? Does it distort and twist and narrow our idea of ‘health’? Does it narrow our idea of a person with an eating disorder to a cis, white, able-bodied, heterosexual woman who is, above all else, thin?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Well, pretty much, yeah.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>But does it cause eating disorders?</p>
<p>Maybe it’s a matter of asking a different question. </p>
<p><img alt="medium_Lee - Blog Post_0.jpg" src="/sites/default/files//medium_Lee%20-%20Blog%20Post_0.jpg" style="height:120px; width:120px" /></p>
<p><em>Lee Thomas is an international speaker, writer, and advocate based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. Lee speaks to groups of all ages and sizes about mental health and mental illness, with a particular focus on stigma reduction and youth mental health. They are a Mental Health First Aid instructor, TEDx speaker, contributor to The Mighty, and founder of the #MyDefinition poster campaign. When Lee’s not doing mental health stuff, you can usually find them updating their dog’s Instagram account (yes, really).</em></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/body-image" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Body Image</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/media-buzz" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Media Buzz</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div></div></div>Fri, 10 Nov 2017 15:21:59 +0000nedic support1062 at http://nedic.caFrom Blame to Famehttp://nedic.ca/blog/blame-fame-0
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><img alt="t.jpg" src="/sites/default/files//t.jpg" style="height:407px; width:640px" /></p>
<p>I used to blame my body for everything.</p>
<p>Good or bad, it happened because of my body. I couldn’t climb the monkey bars or do well in gym class because I was weak. I couldn’t do yoga or fit in a pretty prom dress because my stomach was too big. I refused to pursue relationships because I thought I was too much to be loved. I convinced myself that people were only friends with me out of pity and that opportunities happened as an act of charity. I didn’t deserve the good and the bad that came my way, I deserved it all.</p>
<p>This rhetoric – that our bodies are to blame – starts young. It starts small. It starts with clothing designed to fit no one perfectly, and products based off of the constant need to improve and change. The messaging the world tells us is if you purchase or pursue this next best thing, then that’s it. You’re <em>golden</em>. You’re <em>worth it</em>. But then once you do, there’s always just one more thing. This continues in a constant cycle and before you know it, there’s no way off of that roundabout.</p>
<p>That’s kind of how our messaging to ourselves works too. I remember bartering with myself over the tiniest things in the hopes that that would be it, it would be my golden ticket. Just eat a salad a day, just workout for 10 more minutes, just buy the expensive juice. It’ll make you happy and better. It’ll make you more valuable. It’ll make you worth it.</p>
<p>But here’s the secret: you’re already worth it. You’re already valuable beyond belief. You’re already a rare and beautiful creature. What if we stopped our babbling blame and bathed ourselves in a fountain of fame? Think of your favourite celebrity and singer – they’re perfect to you, and their fame comes with a heaping amount of love and admiration, making their very existence magical. What if you offered yourself the same glory in being?</p>
<p>I challenge you to try. To try to be awestruck with your presence, be excited about your existence, and encouraged by your natural gifts and talents. Offer yourself the best of the best – because YOU ARE the best of the best.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Deighton Edwards is a third year Social Work student at Ryerson University. Her passions lie within student development, student affairs and activism through writing. Deighton is heavily involved on campus and hopes to continue her work with postsecondary students into her professional career.</em></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/body-image" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Body Image</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/perspectives" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Perspectives</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div></div></div>Fri, 06 Oct 2017 22:58:01 +0000nedic support1057 at http://nedic.caFrom Blame to Famehttp://nedic.ca/blog/blame-fame
<div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"><p><img alt="t.jpg" src="/sites/default/files//t.jpg" style="height:407px; width:640px" /></p>
<p>I used to blame my body for everything.</p>
<p>Good or bad, it happened because of my body. I couldn’t climb the monkey bars or do well in gym class because I was weak. I couldn’t do yoga or fit in a pretty prom dress because my stomach was too big. I refused to pursue relationships because I thought I was too much to be loved. I convinced myself that people were only friends with me out of pity and that opportunities happened as an act of charity. I didn’t deserve the good and the bad that came my way, I deserved it all.</p>
<p>This rhetoric – that our bodies are to blame – starts young. It starts small. It starts with clothing designed to fit no one perfectly, and products based off of the constant need to improve and change. The messaging the world tells us is if you purchase or pursue this next best thing, then that’s it. You’re <em>golden</em>. You’re <em>worth it</em>. But then once you do, there’s always just one more thing. This continues in a constant cycle and before you know it, there’s no way off of that roundabout.</p>
<p>That’s kind of how our messaging to ourselves works too. I remember bartering with myself over the tiniest things in the hopes that that would be it, it would be my golden ticket. Just eat a salad a day, just workout for 10 more minutes, just buy the expensive juice. It’ll make you happy and better. It’ll make you more valuable. It’ll make you worth it.</p>
<p>But here’s the secret: you’re already worth it. You’re already valuable beyond belief. You’re already a rare and beautiful creature. What if we stopped our babbling blame and bathed ourselves in a fountain of fame? Think of your favourite celebrity and singer – they’re perfect to you, and their fame comes with a heaping amount of love and admiration, making their very existence magical. What if you offered yourself the same glory in being?</p>
<p>I challenge you to try. To try to be awestruck with your presence, be excited about your existence, and encouraged by your natural gifts and talents. Offer yourself the best of the best – because YOU ARE the best of the best.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><em>Deighton Edwards is a third year Social Work student at Ryerson University. Her passions lie within student development, student affairs and activism through writing. Deighton is heavily involved on campus and hopes to continue her work with postsecondary students into her professional career.</em></p>
</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-blog-categories field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"><div class="field-label">Categories:&nbsp;</div><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/body-image" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Body Image</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/blog-categories/perspectives" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Perspectives</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/blog-categories/self-acceptance" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">Self Acceptance</a></div></div></div>Fri, 06 Oct 2017 22:57:54 +0000nedic support1056 at http://nedic.ca